When compiling my Android app in Livecode I set the minimum Android version to 4.0 (API 14). However, when trying to import to Google Play, which is an update to an existing app, I get an error message that it need to target at least Android version 8.0 (API 26) under Googles new rules. The only way I can seem to load on to Goolge Play is by compiling in Livecode with a minimum Android version of 8.0. But when doing so my device running 4.0 would not side load the APK with a error message that it could not parse the package. So my question is how can I target 8.0 but still have a minimum of 4.0? Because this is an update to an existing app I'm concerned setting the minimum to 8.0 will cause problems for all the existing users running lower OS if they update.

Thanks, however it doesn't seem to work as it still recognizes the target as the minimum. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, I am on LC9 by the way. Is there a way to just alter the actual LC manifest.xml rather than merge them on compile as suggested? A summary from the mailinglist thread...

the target version is already included in the Android manifest that LC uses by default. It is set to be the same as the minimum version. We can edit that to use a different number. Make a copy of the default manifest, located at: <Your LC app>/Contents/Tools/Runtime/Android/Manifest.xml

Then include the revised manifest in the Copy Files pane of the standalone settings. In LC versions prior to LC 9 it will replace the default one when you do a build. In LC 9, the standalone builder now merges your manifest with the default template.

Seems to be working now, loaded to Google Play and the download looks good too. Since Google Play will require the target version to change overtime i'll have to keep editing this file, unless LC inserts a target version drop down field as a future update.